Less Equals More for McAnally and Friends

Bettors aren’t crazy about four-horse fields, but trainer Ron McAnally, jockey Chris McCarron and owner Janis Whitham had no problem with them this weekend.

The day after the trio teamed to win the Hollywood Oaks, which featured only a quartet of 3-year-old fillies, with Listening, they were back in the winner’s circle again after the $102,802 Bel Air Handicap.

Cleante, one of only four older horses left in the field for the Grade II after the scratches of R Friar Tuck, The Exeter Man and Moving Tribute, wore down favored Dare And Go to win by a head in 1:41 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Highly regarded when he arrived in this country after a successful career in South America, Cleante had promised far more than he delivered the last two years. Sunday’s victory was only his second in 15 starts since the beginning of 1995.

Second to Soul Of The Matter in last year’s Bel Air, the 7-year-old and 2-1 second choice Sunday was third for six furlongs behind the pacesetting Flying Marfa, went after Dare And Go, the 3-5 favorite who took over the lead approaching the stretch, and got up in the final strides.

Dernier Empereur, who has been a royal bust in this country, was 11 lengths back in third, then came Flying Marfa.

“He found something extra today,” said McCarron, who won two other races Sunday. “He’s always trained like a real good horse. From the first time I ever got on him, I thought, ‘Gee, by this time in his career, he would have won five or six stakes here. So I’m sure pleased for Mrs. Whitham that he finally knocked out a graded win. He had to fight hard and he found something extra today.”

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Serena’s Song, who hasn’t run in California since she was well-beaten in the Santa Anita Handicap in early March, was given top weight of 125 pounds for the $250,000 Vanity Handicap, one of seven stakes races Sunday at Hollywood Park.

The winner of her last three on a five-race road trip, Serena’s Song is expected to be among the participants in the 1 1/8-mile Vanity and will be ridden by Jerry Bailey.

Jewel Princess, second to Twice The Vice in the recent Milady, was given 120 pounds.

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Horse Racing Notes

Favored Urbane, ridden by Alex Solis for trainer Randy Bradshaw and owners Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel, won the $300,000 Delaware Handicap on Sunday at Delaware Park. . . . Silken Cat, Canada’s champion 2-year-old filly in 1995, will make her U.S. debut in Wednesday’s eighth race, a $47,000 allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. Now trained by Neil Drysdale for owner Marie Jones, Silken Cat won all three of her starts last year by an average of more than eight lengths. . . . Jockey Richard Pfau was given a three-day suspension, beginning Thursday, for an incident in Saturday’s fourth race.